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Thursday, November 12, 2015

Cigarette Sales On The Rise

The use of tobacco has been on the decline for a number of years, the result of public smoking policies, higher prices and a better understanding of the health problems that can accompany tobacco use. Tobacco use has been linked to several forms of cancer which can result in the loss of life, and it seems like that with every year that passes more life threatening illnesses are being tied to smoking.

Unfortunately, new data suggests a slight increase in cigarette sales this year has public health officials concerned, Bloomberg Business reports. The increase in sales has been linked to an improving economy, lower gasoline prices and reductions in government anti-smoking programs.

Smokers, by and large, tend to have lower incomes than non-smokers, according to the article. Money saved at the gas pump, can be diverted for buying cigarettes. When you factor in the fact that the majority of cigarettes are purchased at gasoline station convenience stores, it is easy to see why cigarette sales are spiking. If the trend continues until the end of the year, it will be the first time the country will have seen a rise in cigarette sales since 2002.

Concerns about e-cigarette use continue to mount, especially among teenagers and young adults. Teenagers are attracted to the devices for a number of reasons, and while many health experts would argue the e-cigarettes are a healthier alternative to tobacco - there are concerns that the devices could lead to a new generation becoming addicted to nicotine, the article reports.

“E-cigarettes and hookah are now the most common tobacco products used among kids,” said Brian King, a spokesman for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.